There is a t-shirt that says "Born in Maine, Living in Exile." I lived in "exile" (actually a very nice place) for 32 years, and returned to Maine in 2005. That's not necessarily what all this is about, just the only title I could think of at the time.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Friday Five: The Big To-Do

Lucky for me that Kathrynzj at RevGalBlogPals posted her Friday Five nice and early, as the weather may at last be a little more cooperative with us Census Bureau canvassers today. Fortunately I got one or two things checked off a to-do list on the rainy days. Anyway, Kathryn says:

"Greetings from the land of the Big To-Do!It seems like every year I enter into the summer with a growing list of HUGE projects/events/trips that seem to have a permanent place on the 'to do' list.This year I have a huge move pending so that takes up an entire list all on its own, but it doesn't take a big event like that for me to make plans bigger than my summer can hold!How about you?Is this the third summer in a row you have made a pledge involving your garage and actually getting a car into it?Did you once again miss the registration deadline for the continuing education event of your dreams ?Are you starting to think you couldn't even find the tents, let alone get it together to pull off a camping trip?Here is your chance to get it out into the open and OWN your Big To-Do! Who knows? Maybe making the list will help you move the Big To-Do to the Big Ta-Da!

1) What home fix-it project is on your Big To-Do?

Inspired by my friend The CEO, who spent part of our beach week choosing a new paint color for the beach house interior, I'd like to paint a room in some color other than white! Probably the dining room/sunroom (they are one and the same) -- it needs it, and also it has less furniture than most of the other rooms so it will be an easier project. I'm thinking a pale yellow.

2) What event (fun or work) is on your Big To-Do?

Finishing our work with the address canvassing for the Census Bureau is certainly on there, and I also have a paid genealogy project to work on. For fun? Onkel Hankie Pants is in two plays this summer, and I'll be attending those; meeting my new twin grandnieces is also on the agenda.

3) What trip is on your Big To-Do?

Even though I do this every year, our annual trip to West Denmark Family Camp in Wisconsin is a big item on my agenda. This year will be extra-special as Cordeliaknits and her partner will be there, Sisterfilms and some friends will be singing and playing one of the evenings, and (great trepidation here), I'm assisting Sisterfilms with the children's crafts on the first day of camp. My major part is to read the stories, she's coming up with the crafts but I will help out during that portion of the two-hour crafts time as well. The photos accompanying this post are from past Family Camps. They illustrate singing, skits, and sitting under the trees -- three of the many fun activities we do, interspersed with morning coffee, noon dinner, afternoon coffee, supper, and evening coffee. There's also folk dancing, talks and discussions, and of course crafts.

4) What do you wish was on someone ELSE's (partner, family member, celebrity, etc...) Big To-Do?

I'm wishing for Cordeliaknits to find a call, preferably in a more progressive state than California -- say Iowa or, even better, one of the New England states.

5) Getting inspired? What may end this summer having moved from the Big To-Do to the Big Ta-da?

Well, #s 2 and 3 will certainly get done. I just remembered a further house project for which summer is a good time: completing the sorting, repairing and shelving of a number of books down in the nice cool basement (and also some in the not-as-cool guest room and library on the second floor -- but then, that room gets nice breezes off the river.)